The Al-Mushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA) has faulted the stance of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a deliberate attempt to frustrate private sector participation in solving Nigeria’s lingering energy crisis.
In a statement signed by its National President, Ambassador Aminu Majidadi, AITA noted that the country’s inability to revive and operate its national refineries over the years should not be used as a justification to interfere with the progress of a private investment that holds significant potential for the nation’s economy.
Majidadi stressed that rather than frustrating Dangote’s efforts, stakeholders should provide an enabling environment that would allow the refinery to operate at full capacity, free from undue interference. According to him, the persistent failure of successive administrations to rehabilitate Nigeria’s state-owned refineries has left the country heavily dependent on fuel importation, with grave consequences on the economy and the welfare of ordinary citizens.
“It is regrettable that while the federal government has failed for decades to restore our national refineries, some groups now seek to undermine a private initiative that has the capacity to reposition Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Dangote Refinery deserves the independence to operate effectively and contribute meaningfully to national development,” the statement read.
AITA further cautioned against what it described as “self-serving postures” by unions and pressure groups, warning that such actions could derail the refinery’s contribution to reducing the pump price of petroleum products and ensuring energy security.
The organisation called on the federal government to prioritise policies that support private sector-led industrial initiatives, insisting that the success of the Dangote Refinery would serve as a landmark step in addressing Nigeria’s fuel supply challenges.
